Courtney Murphy

Review of MSA Child and Adolescent Cente...

I currently have 3 children in treatment at MSA, o...

I currently have 3 children in treatment at MSA, one for depression and anxiety, one for intermittent explosive disorder and emotional issues, and one for ADHD and ODD. My oldest son has been going for two years, my next son for a year and a half, and my daughter for about a year. The quality of therapy they have received, combined with the close proximity to my home, has totally been worth it. The therapists really develop a good rapport with my children, which gives them a safe space to explore their feelings and work on challenging issues in the ways best suited to each of them (play vs talk vs art, etc). My children look forward to their time with their therapist. I have seen significant improvements in my children after therapy, and even greater gains after some of them see their psychiatrists, who are very willing to make adjustments, take sooner than suggested follow up appointments, and are never pushy with the meds.

That being said, it is a busy center, and if you don't stay on top of making appointments, you may not get your preferred time(s). The front desk is extremely busy because of the huge client pool and the sheer number of therapists on staff. The online check in system saves us a bunch of time, and we are rarely kept waiting for any appointment. Trust me, I'm in there every week, sometimes twice a week, with how many kids need therapy in our family. Some of our first appointments did take many weeks to finally get it, but I found that to be true with my own therapy appointments--it just comes with the territory.

Hopefully those seeking a good therapist for their children will not be discouraged by negative reviews from angry (former) clients. Solid mental health issues take time to resolve, and are a lifelong journey for many. If you are looking to be "cured" anywhere by anyone, you will be looking for a long time.